Safety fuel line



May 30, 1944," M. DACH SAFETY FUEL LINE Filed May 7,1941

2 NZ M ATTORNEYS Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY FUEL LINE Max Dach, Flushing, N. Y.

Application May 7, 1941, Serial No. 392,314 (01. 210-165) I 7 Claims.

This invention relates to safety fuel lines, and more particularly to filters adapted to remove and separate water and other foreign matter from fuel, such as gasoline, in a fuel system. Due to atmospheric conditions and condensation, fuel tanks, whether on vehicles or in the nature of storage tanks, acquire a certain amount of moisture and foreign matter. This is particularly true where tanks must be cleaned and steamed for repair purposes or where the tanks are subject to substantial temperature changes.

While my invention is adapted for use in association with any form of tank, including a storage tank, it is particularly adapted for use in vehicles, such as passenger cars, busses, trucks, army vehicles, etc. y V

The present known types of separators are little more than enlarged fuel lines which fill with water and result inthe water being drawn into the fuel lines and into the carburetor of engines. Moreover, they are subject to freezing and clogging.

An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a separator to remove dirt and water from the fuel, and to provide means for draining such water or .fuel without interfering with the operation of the fuel system.

A further object is to provide a separator in which surplus water and dirt will be returned to the tank or drawn off as desired.

A further object is to provide a' mechanism which may be adapted to improve conventional separators without installing an entirely new device.

A further object ofv this invention is to provide an auxiliary line which will insure the passage of fuel through the line in the ,event the normal supply linev is clogged.

In the accompanying drawing-- Fig. 1 is across-sectional view of my device shown in association with a fuel tank;

Fig. 2 is a slight modification, of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a modification of'my-invention adapted to be used with a conventional separator;

Fig. 4 is another modified form thereof; and

Fig. 5 shows an additional modification.

'In Fig. 1 the separator I is situated between the tank II and the pump (not shown). The separator Ill consists of an upper housing I2 and a lower housing I3, which may be screwed into the upper housing at I4. A pipe or conduit means I runs from the separator to the fuel pump and a pipe or conduit means I6 leads from the tank II to allow fuel to be drawn from the tank through the separator to the pump by suction.

Positioned in the separator is a cup I! having edges I 8 mounted on the edges of the lower casing I3. The cup I! carries a strainer I9 positioned by the spring engaging the cup I! and positioning it.' An opening 2| in the bottom of the cup I1 leads to the lower casing I3. The lower casing I3 is provided with a petcock 22 and a return pipe or'conduit means 23leads from the upper central portion to the tank II.

.In operation, fuel, such as gasoline, is drawn fromthe. tank through the pipe I6 into the chamber 24 formed by the strainer I9 in the cup ll. Any heavier matter, such as water or foreign matter, will fall by gravity to the bottom of the chamber 24 and pass through the opening ZI into the, lowerv housing I3 where it may be drawn off through the petcock 22, or, should it rise to the level of the return pipe 23, returned to the tank I I. It will be readily appreciated that not only does the pipe 23 act as a return line but it may also be used as an auxiliary fuel line and, in the event that the pipe I6 is clogged, the suction from the pump may draw fuel from the tank through the pipe 23.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 2, the return pipe 25 runs from the petcock 22 to the bottom of the tank II. This modified form operates in the same manner as the form shown in Fig. 1, but would be more adaptable to installations where, due to the use of the vehicle, the position of the separator is not stable. This would be particularly true in airplanes which are often banked or turned. sharply and in which any accumulated amount of water might be thrown back into the line.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 4, the upper casing is adapted to receive the convent onal glass cup 3| held in place by the conventional swinging bracket 32. The supply pipe 33 has a tube 34 extending into the strainer 35. A return pipe 35 is tapped into the bottom of the housing 33 to return water or foreign matter which may rise to the level of the pipe 35, thus preventing it from being drawn through the pipe 3'! tothe pump. Since, in the event of freezing or excessive flow of fuel. the bottom 38 of the tube 34 might be covered and the suction destroyed, a vent 39 is provided with a tube 33 to insure the free flow from the tank to the pump.

The form shown in Fig. 3 operates in the same manner as that shown in Fig. 4, except that a metal cup 40 is substituted for the conventional glass cup 3|. A return pipe 4| may then be tapped into the cup device adjacent the lower portion thereof, and a petcock 42 may be provided for drainage.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the casing 59 is adapted to receive a conventional glass cup 5! and is provided with a pipe 52 tapped into the top 53 of the casing. A strainer member 54 is provided adjacent the top of the casing, and the feed line v55 enters the casing at 56 below the strainer. A return pipe 51 is provided in the lower portion of the casing. In this form the reversal of the pump and fuel lines avoids the possibility of a lock in the suction line and eliminates the necessity of the Vent.

It will be appreciated that while my other modifications show slightly different structure, the basic principle of my invention is'the'same in any form in which there is furnished a suitable chamber of sufficient depth to allow the separation of the" water or foreign matter from the fuel and the return of said foreign matter to the tank, or the drainage thereof from the separator, thus avoiding the possibility of the foreign matter being drawn into the pump .andcarburetor and thus avoiding the possibility of large amounts'of water or foreign matter collecting in the separator and :freezing.

It will also be "appreciated that with my improved fuel line an :auxiliaryline is-provided,.and

that, should the top line be clogged, fuel will be drawn by the pump through the auxiliaryline, thus insuring a continued flow. Iflarge amounts of water accumulate in the chamber, the auxiliary line will of coursebe covered and the water,

arator and the pump, a strainer within said separator and disposed between the tank and pump conduit connections therewith, a chamber below said strainer to collect waterandlforeign matter, and return conduit means connecting said chambar and saidtank, the connection between said return. conduit and said chamber being on a level with, or above the bottom of said tank.

2. In a fuel system having a supply tank and a pump adapted tn draw fuel there-from by suction, a separator situated between the tank and thepump, means providing fluid flow communication between said tank and separator, and between said separator and pump, a strainer in said into the upper housing at one side of said straining member, a pipe leading from said upper housing at the opposite side of said straining member to said pump, a lower housing comprising a settling chamber for water and foreign matter, and a return pipe leading from said separator at a point below said straining member to said tank, the point of connection between said return pipe and said separator being on a level with or above thebottom of said tank.

4. In combination with a fuel system including a tank and a pump, a separator situated between said tank and pump, said separator comprising an upper housing containing a straining member and a lower housing forming a settling tight relation, a petcock on said lower chamber separator disposed acrossthepath of fluid flow therethrough, a chamber beneath said strainer element to collect water and foreign matter carried by the fuel, and a return pipe connecting said chamber with said tank, the connection between said return pipe and said chamber being on a level with or above the bottom of said tank.

3. In combination with a fuel system including a tank and a pump, a separator situated between said tank and pump, said separator comprising an upper housing, a straining member in said upper housing, a pipe leading from said tank and a return pipe leading from said lower chamberto'said tank, the point of connection between said return pipe and said lower housing being on alevel with or above=the bottom of saidltank. 5. In combination with a fuel system having a pump and a 'fuel .tank, a separator situated ,therebetween, saidseparatorcomprising a housing member having a-settling chamber secured .to the lower end thereof, a pipe leading from the top of the housing member to said pump, a strainer situated in said housing member, .apipe leading from the fuel tank tosaid housing member and connected'thereto at a point below said strainer and a return pipe leading from thelower portion of said separator to saidtank, the point of connection between .said returnpipe and said separator beingv one. level with, or above the bottom of saidtank.

6. In a fuel systemhaving a supply tank and a pump adapted .to draw fuel'therefrom by suction, a fuel receiving member situated'between said tank and pump, conduit means for-establishing fluid flow communication between the tankand fuelreceiving member and between said fuel receiving member and said ,pump, a settling chamber in said fuel receivingmember 'for collecting water and foreign matter, and a return'pipe running from said settling chamber to said tank, thepointlo'f connection between said return pipe and said settling chamber being on a level with or'above'the bottom of'said tank.

'7. In combination with a fuel system includ- 'ing'a tank'and aipump,a separator situated between the tank and pump, said separatorin- .cluding a settling chamber, an upper housingengaging the outside of the top of said settling chamber, a cup member positioned on the. top edge of said settling chamber and having an aperture therethrough, a straining'fmember positioned in said cup, a spring engaging said cup and said'upper housing to ,positionsaid cup and said straining member, anlinlet pipe from said tank communicating with'the upper'housing and discharging Within said. "straining member, an outlet pipe in said upper housing outside of .said straining member and a return gpipe connected between the tank andsaidsettlin'g'chamber, the point of connection between said return pipeand said'settling chamber being on a level with, or above the bottom of 'the'tank.

MAX'DACH. 

